Ken James

Northwood High School
kenjames@northwood.k12.oh.ud
< %wo crucial elements in installing any program:
< Staff organization-be sure coaches know their
roles, responsibilities
< Drill notebook-be sure coaches at all levels know
how to teach the fundamentals that you want them
to teach.
< ny good offense must be able to run the ball.
%he option allows you to gain yards on the ground
again a superior opponent.
< Ìt can be incorporated into any offense or run out
of any formation (Shotgun, Ì, Double Slot, or
Wishbone).
< Ìt allows for simplicity and repetition.
< Ìt allows your athletes to win for you.
< Ìt is easy to sell to your players because they see
big plays on film.
< Ìt uses defenses natural aggressiveness against
them; they must learn the opposite of what they're
being taught.
< Ìt's great on the goal line (QB gets lost).
< Ìt sets up other players in your offense: counter,
boot, reverse, option pass.
< Ìt is not a turnover offense if QB and RBs are
trained properly (call for the ball).
< Ìt creates problems for man coverage. %here is no
perimeter run support.
< ou must have answers for anything the defense
can throw at you.
 ample nswer Sheet:
N an Coverage:
N Bunch, in formations
N 200 (7 cuts); 200 Fade Stick
N Crack on wide running plays
N Cover 3:
N Run away from formation
N 5 cuts, 43 routes, 81, 17 flood routes
< ou must be fleible ÷ the ability to change plays
is essential. ake your QB check plays early in
the week. ou must be able to attack where the
number advantage is.
< %he QB is key-point guard-every school has one.
Ìf not, you won't be any good anyway.
< %he QB must be able to:
 ake good decisions,
 Handle pressure, and
 ccelerate off the mesh point.
< ou must run into the LOS ÷ toughest thing to do
is keep QB from looking at the dive back.
< Good defenses will try to dictate who gets the ball
or confuse the QB. Have different blocking
schemes or formations available to allow your
playmakers to carry the ball.
< ample:
 Load block the D so QB can get the ball on the
perimeter. (%his also helps QB stay healthy)
< Between the tackles ÷ go where you have a dent
in the defense.
< ample:
 Ìnside Veer
< On the perimeter ÷ go where you have a number
advantage. Be sure blockers are in an
advantageous position.
< ample:
< Whoever does not get the ball must carry out
fakes past the LOS so the defense has no idea
where the ball is.
< ou must be able to run midline, inside and
outside veer.
< %he defense can take one away, but they can't
take them all away.
< ou must be willing to throw play action passes;
this puts the secondary in a bind and slows down
run support.
< ou must learn to create interior space with line
splits.
< Blocking Rules
 Hole Numbering and Line Splits
1. Center-guard splits are 2-3 feet
2. Guard-tackle splits will be 2-4 feet
3. %ackle-% split will also be 2-4 feet.
4. Splits will vary based on the defense we are facing.
5. Split ends will also vary splits according to the play we
are running and our position on the field.
6. %he fullback will line up with his feet at a depth of 4.5
yards. (Ìn the shotgun, the fullback will be 5.5 yards
deep behind the guard; the QB will be 4.5 yards
deep.)
7. %he halfbacks will line up one yard outside and one
yard behind our offensive tackles. Ìf we are in a tight
formation, they will line up one yard behind and one
yard outside the %ight nd.
8. Ìn a wishbone formation, the halfbacks will line up
behind the guards at a depth of 5.5 yards.
9. Ìn an "Ì¨ formation, the %B will line up at a depth
of 6.5 yards.
Play Calling
1. ach running play has a two-digit number.
2. %he first number describes the backfield action or
play series.
3. %he second number tells the hole to be run.
(ceptions will occur on option plays.)
< Line Splits
 Widen if covered by a Down Lineman on your outside
shoulder
 %ighten if uncovered
< Offensive Line Play
 rea Blocking:
N We do not block specific people. ach lineman is assigned
to block the defender in his particular area. Defensive stunts
will have no effect on our blocking assignments. Ìf there is
ever any doubt as to who to block, just remember Ìn-On-Off
(man inside, man over, man outside).
< %his creates running lanes without having to move
anyone.
 Numbering of areas:
N ach area will be given a specific number. However, the
definition of these areas will shift depending on the point of
attack.
N 0-1 hole plays
N 2-3 hole plays
N 4, 5, 6 & 7 hole plays
N 8-9 hole plays
< Perimeter Blocking schemes
 Option Blocking Schemes
N Load
1. FSH blocks FSD.
2. FS wide receiver blocks secondary force.
ample: 10 Load
N Seal
1. FSH blocks primary force.
2. FS wide receiver seals FSLB. Ìf FSLB is taken, work
up to free safety.
ample: 13 Seal
N rc: %his is the standard blocking scheme for all inside veer
midline, and trap option plays.
1. FSH blocks primary force.
2. FS wide receiver blocks secondary force.
ample: 12 rc
< Ì Formation
< Wishbone
< Shotgun
< Why different formations?
 Ìt allows you to handle problems with different fronts.
 Ìt also allows you to dictate coverage and put your
players in a position to block or run pass routes more
effectively.
< ample: 43 with 3 techniques creates a
problem with the Ìnside Veer. ou have two
Options: run midline from under center or ÌS Veer
from the gun. So you check to midline if you are
under center; keep the ÌS Veer if you are in the
gun.
< %his is the base play of our offense. Play action
passes and counters all operate off of this play.
< We begin our game plan each week by finding a
way to run this play.
< We'll use motion or formation adjustments to give
us a chance to run it.
< Ìf it isn't possible, we'll move to midline or outside
veer.
< %he direction we run it will typically be determined
by the coverage we are getting, specifically, can
we block the primary force.
< Whether we run midline, ÌS or OS Veer is usually
determined by the front we see.
< Ultimately, it all boils down to a numbers game.
For eample, if the coverage is balanced, we run
to our strength. Ìf the coverage has rotated to our
formation strength, we run weak
< From the gun, it is difficult for LBs to read the play
properly. Ìt could hit backside because the RB is
starting on the guard's outside shoulder and attacking
FS gap.
Coaching point: Ìf the dive back sees an opening in
the frontside or backside gap, he hits it at full speed
with his pads down. Ìf not, he bends out behind the
frontside tackle's block.
< ust be run from under center, but from a variety
of backfield alignments.
< Splits are crucial. Go as wide as you can and still
get to the Ìnside LB
< We run it a bit differently in that we have our tackle
wall the playside LB just like he would on the
inside veer. Ìt is more simple for our tackles and
allows us to double the playside LB against a 44
front. Ìf we want the QB to keep it, we'll call "Out¨
and the FS% will pass set on the D. BS% must
protect QB's back
< Ìt is also crucial that the FB stay on the midline
until he penetrates the LOS.
< Ìf he doesn't, he'll bend out into the defender
assigned to tackle him.
< amples: Ì Formation
< Double Slot
< Wishbone
< Like midline, must be run from under center.
< Can also be run with a load block from the
wishbone.
< Great in short yardage because it is a safe, quick-
hitting play with two lead blockers
< Ì Formation
< Double Slot
< Wishbone
< Ì Formation
< Wishbone
< Shotgun